Following the implementation of the EU4Health programme in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior EU official, Sandra Gallina, Director-General of the Commission’s health service (DG SANTE), has voiced uncertainty regarding its long-term sustainability. The programme, representing the EU’s first dedicated health budget with a €5.3 billion allocation over the period of 2021 to 2027, may not see repetition in the future.
Gallina emphasised the necessity for sustainable financing beyond EU funds alone. Despite EU4Health’s original intent to fortify the European Health Union and bolster crisis preparedness, recent budget reductions and challenges in assessing short-term impacts have elicited concerns within the health community in Brussels. Gallina highlighted the transformative impact of the programme’s funding allocation, signalling a departure from the Commission’s past reliance on limited funding sources. These developments underscore the complexities involved in navigating health financing amidst broader geopolitical considerations.
